A Magnificent Haunting [Magnifica presenza] ** (2012, Elio Germano, Margherita Buy, Vittoria Puccini) – Classic Movie Review 12,801

Ferzan Özpetek’s 2012 Italian comedy fantasy drama film A Magnificent Haunting [Magnifica presenza] is civilised but rather tiresome and none too entertaining, with an irritating whimsical comedic spin covering some darker and deeper thoughts.

Director Ferzan Özpetek’s 2012 Italian comedy fantasy drama film A Magnificent Haunting [Magnifica presenza] is a surprise disappointment from this enchanting film-maker. He goes for something different, which is very good, but this particular different isn’t really particularly very good. The lightweight, light-hearted tone of this ghost story keeps involvement or amusement at a distance, and it’s all way too thin and flimsy, and kind of obvious.

Elio Germano stars as 28-year-old Pietro, whose dream is to become an actor, so he comes Rome and starts to work nights in a bakery, while attending castings. At first, he stays with his distant cousin Maria (Paola Minaccioni) but then he rents a house and the aspiring actor discovers that his spacious new apartment comes complete with eight friendly ghosts, actors killed in the theatre where they were performing in the war back in 1943, betrayed by one of their company, loyal only to herself.

Ferzan Özpetek’s A Magnificent Haunting [Magnifica presenza] is civilised but rather tiresome and none too entertaining, with an irritating whimsical comedic spin covering some much more interesting darker and deeper thoughts. Özpetek can do it, but comedy isn’t really his strong point.

The performances lack the kind of charm that could help make the piece involving. The hero is a bit of an irritant, his cousin more so, the doctor character (Massimiliano Gallo) even more so, and the ghosts fail to establish relatable, amusing characters. The betraying old lady does pack a little oomph into her smallish, belated but crucial role, making something of it. Hint: it’s not a comedic role. Suddenly there’s a final rush of fascinating ideas, and even a story, but it’s too little too late.

Mar. 16, 2012. Italy. 105 minutes. PG.

The films of Ferzan Özpetek: Hamam (1997), Harem Suare (1999), The Ignorant Fairies (2001), Facing Windows (2003), Cuore Sacro (2004), Saturn in Opposition (2007), A Perfect Day (2008), Loose Cannons (2010), A Magnificent Haunting [Magnifica presenza] (2012), Fasten Your Seatbelts (2014), Red Istanbul (2017), Naples in Veils (2017), The Goddess of Fortune (2019), Nuovo Olimpo (2023). Also the TV series The Ignorant Angels (2022).

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,801

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